Hormonal Imbalance: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Weight management concerns itself with the type of foods that you eat and the daily exercises that you perform. However, you may find it interesting to learn that the hormones have a far greater role to play where your weight and the kinds of foods that you enjoy are concerned. In the following article, you can find more information on the same. Insulin is a hormone that is related to your weight. If the blood-sugar levels are heightened, then insulin is released from the pancreas. Then, the hormone causes a fall in the blood-sugar levels by facilitating the absorption of the sugars by the tissues. If you consume a carbohydrate-rich diet, your body releases more insulin. Now, if you do not utilize the sugars that are stored in the tissues, your body starts to amass what actually, should be converted into energy. Hence, you can conclude that insulin is antilipolytic in nature, which means that it disrupts the fat breakdown process. As a result, you should consider reducing your intake of carbohydrates for losing weight. Additionally, thyroid hormones affect your metabolism. An underactive thyroid gland releases lesser quantities of the thyroid-related hormones.

Consequently, your metabolism rate falls and you feel fatigued as well. A lack of thyroid hormones can make you feel sluggish, slow down the digestion rate, and give birth to bowel-related problems such as constipation. A reduction in the metabolism rate causes weight gain and a rise in the cholesterol levels. Therefore, you should take measures to treat thyroid-linked issues and increase the consumption of thyroid-healthy foods for an efficient metabolism rate.

Moreover, if you are stressed or have high blood insulin levels, the adrenal glands release the cortisol hormone. This hormone is responsible for the breakdown of muscle-related tissues into sugar via the liver. Also, the chemical causes a rush of glucose in the body. As a consequence, the body releases higher insulin amounts; consequently, you become resistant to insulin. Meanwhile, cortisol also causes fat storage by making the body think that they will be needed. The abdominal fat cells have more cortisol receptors and can result in greater fat storage in the portion.

You can also suffer from obesity if there are less of leptin hormones in the body. This is because the leptin hormone, which is released by the fat cells, informs the body when full and signals it to not eat anymore. In the event of a fall in the leptin levels, you will not know when to stop eating. Furthermore, you can become resistant to the hormone if you forcefully feed yourself after your appetite is satiated.

Likewise, the serotonin hormone also transmits messages to the brain when you are full. The hormone is a neurotransmitter that contains amino acids and is found in protein sources. As a result of low serotonin levels, you can suffer from lethargy, weight gain, depression and your tendency to gorge on carbohydrate-rich foods may heighten. Also, your brain gets the message to eat more because of starvation and you tend to eat more and put on weight.

You should also bear in mind that an imbalance between the estrogen and progesterone levels can give rise to an imbalance in the hormonal levels. Consequently, your body stores more fat and you gain more weight.

Therefore, the consumption of foods that bring about a healthy balance between these 2 hormones is recommended. Wheat-based and soy-based foods are beneficial to incorporate into the diet for the desired results.
In the above-mentioned text, you can see how hormones can affect your weight and metabolism. Only by adding healthier food options in your diet, you can have a healthy balance between the hormonal levels and improve your overall health.

The human body includes countless hormones. Most of these hormones control the internal physical functions of the body when they are in the perfect balancing state. When any infection affects the balancing state of the hormones, the body cannot function properly. Infertility happens due to hormone imbalance as well as due to the ovarian disease, Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD). However, there are different ways to treat the hormonal imbalance in PCOD patients.

Ways to treat the hormonal imbalance when a person is suffering from PCOD

Although there are several ways to treat the hormonal imbalance in PCOD patients, some of the most common ways include:

• Creating some lifestyle changes
• Medicines
• Surgery

How can a lifestyle change treat the hormonal imbalance?

1. Maintaining a healthy weight - Any obese PCOD woman will prone to hormonal imbalance. Losing the surplus weight will allow the woman to overturn the imbalance in her hormones effectively. Even a 5% decrease in weight will show a way to a considerable improvement in her hormonal balance effort. Moreover, healthy weight means maintaining the body mass index between the ranges 18.5 to 24.9.
2. Following a healthy diet - Following a healthy balanced diet will aid a PCOD patient greatly in maintaining her hormonal balance in an effective way. Food items, which are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, will allow the patient to keep up a healthy weight. These foods will help her in keeping her hormones in a perfect balancing level, as well.
3. Exercise regularly - It is essential for a PCOD patient to maintain a regular workout regimen. This will not only allow her to lose the extra pounds, but also avoids the hormonal imbalance problem.

Role of medications in treating the hormonal balance in a PCOD patient

There are many medicines out there, which allow a PCOD patient to treat hormonal imbalance effectively. However, the medicine, Clomifene is considered the primary medicine to treat the hormonal imbalance in PCOD patients. It is always recommended to consult a specialist before taking any medicine. 

What type of Surgery can treat PCOD?

When a PCOD woman is incapable to treat her hormonal imbalance through lifestyle changes and medicines, then a surgery is the only feasible solution. An infertile woman can opt for the LOD or the laparoscopic ovarian drilling surgery to treat the disorder successfully. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Similar to menopause in women which pertains to hormonal imbalances; men experience andropause that is characterized by irregularities in the hormonal levels. Several bodily functions are managed by hormones that can be described as chemical compounds. Some hormones that regulate the body functions in the male population are estrogen, insulin, cortisol, testosterone, and thyroid-related hormones. A hormonal imbalance in men is a part of the aging process.

Research studies indicate that there is a fall of nearly one percent in a male’s hormonal levels every year after they cross the age of 30 years. In men, different hormones control the physical male attributes such as sex organs, facial hair, and the testes. Also, the chemicals are responsible for the release of sperm in the testes and have a bearing on the man’s sexual libido. Male hormones are, also, known for restoring bone health, uplifting the mood, and boosting mental agility.

In short, where the overall health of the males is concerned, hormones play a major role. As a male, if you are suffering from hormonal imbalance, the possibility of ailing from weight gain, tiredness mood imbalances, hot flashes, and hair loss remains high. However, you can control the hormonal imbalance by making some changes to your diet and lifestyle. Natural cures are favored by a significant percentage of the population because they do not give birth to ill-effects, are inexpensive treatment methods, and serve as effective cures. Some home remedies for hormone-linked imbalances in men are studied in the following details.

1. Body Exertion: It is imperative for you to take measures to lose weight when ailing from hormonal imbalance because the fat quantity in your body affects the testosterone levels. The higher the amount of fat, greater is the drop in the testosterone levels. This is because fats have a role to play in the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. For this reason, you are advised to follow a regular exercise regime as part of your fat loss efforts. Additionally, you can benefit via exercises because they help to enhance the mood and improves sleep patterns.
2. Calcium Intake: The intake of calcium-rich foods is recommended if a male suffers from hormonal imbalance. This helps reduce the susceptibility of suffering from bone-linked diseases. Males should note that as a result of low testosterone levels, your bones could become weak; and calcium is needed for their strengthening. Therefore, they can benefit by adding calcium sources to their diet. Cheese, the dark green-colored variety of vegetables, milk, broccoli, almonds, kale, and soybeans can help to keep the body nourished with calcium.
3. Body Detoxification: As a part of their hormonal imbalance recovery measures, males should, also, consider detoxifying the body to get rid of the inner toxic waste. This, in turn, improves the body’s ability to counter disorders and improves the overall well-being. Some foods that are recommended for detoxifying the body include the cruciferous vegetables such as kale, cabbages, collards, and broccoli. Also, other foods such as apple, ginger, milk thistle herb, banana, pomegranate, rosemary, grapes, avocado, cherries, and oranges can be added to the dietary regime for their detoxification benefits. Moreover, there are several detoxification courses that are deemed effective and you can ask your nutritionist for more details on the same.

On a concluding note, you must know that stress-relieving techniques are worth practicing for bringing about a healthy balance between the hormonal levels. Meditation techniques, deep breathing, and yoga poses are ideal for reducing stress in the body and men with hormonal imbalance sure should consider practicing these methods.

Hormones are powerful chemicals that help keep our bodies working normally. They stimulate, regulate, and control the function of various tissues and organs. Made by specialized groups of cells within structures called glands, hormones are involved in almost every biological process including sexual reproduction, growth, metabolism, and immune function. These glands, including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, and testes, release various hormones into the body as needed. Hormones have an especially large impact on the energy levels and persistent and chronic fatigue sufferers have been shown to often have hormonal deficiencies.

Many women between the ages of 35 and 55 complain of low energy levels or extreme fatigue characterized by a rush of exhaustion and the feeling of the drain of energy. It prevents them from carrying out the simplest of everyday tasks.  Many say that they are tired throughout the day and find themselves craving for naps more often. 

When to consult a doctor?

Bloating, irritability, palpitations, mood swings, problems related to blood sugar, trouble concentrating, infertility, and fatigue are some of the most common symptoms of hormone imbalance. These compounds affect every cell and system in the body. Hormone imbalance can debilitate you. Some hormonal shifts are normal, like monthly fluctuations responsible for menstruation and ovulation or the changes that occur during pregnancy.

Menopause is another time for a normal hormonal shift in a woman's life. The other times, these fluctuations may be due to a medication or a medical condition. Though it isn't a disease in itself, fatigue is a condition that should not be overlooked because it is generally indicative of an underlying medical cause. Prolonged low energy level without any known reason immediately calls for an attention from a doctor.

Complications of fatigue: Infrequent and mild cases of fatigue can occur as a natural part of the hormonal changes associated with a woman's menstrual cycle. However, chronic fatigue caused by hormonal imbalance can interfere with the quality of a woman's life. In rare cases, when chronic fatigue is left untreated, it can lead to certain complications, which are more risky for a woman's emotional and mental health. These possible but uncommon complications of fatigue can include depression or a reduced reaction time and these conditions have some specific warning signs. Women who experience frequent symptoms of extreme fatigue that are interfering with their daily lives should be immediately treated.

Prevention of fatigue: There are many different things that a person suffering from fatigue can do to prevent and manage symptoms. While there is no one single cure for fatigue, there are changes that a person can make in his life, which will help to decrease the mental and physical effects of fatigue. Lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment available and are very important to treat fatigue. Focusing on diet, exercise, and following healthy habits can have a huge impact as well. In addition, right supplements can also help to keep the endocrine system in a good shape and therefore, help prevent or ease the symptoms of hormonal imbalance, which includes fatigue.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Thinning hair, noticeable bald spots, large clumps of hair in the hairbrush or shower drain are indications of hair loss. This loss of hair is an effect of hormonal imbalance.

Have You Seen these Signs of Hair Loss?

• A widening part of the scalp
• A ponytail becomes noticeably thinner
• Large clumps of hair in the hairbrush or shower drain and on your pillow after a night’s sleep

Why does it happen?

1. Play of Hormones: Hormonal imbalance is seen in women during menopause, perimenopause, pregnancy, and in endocrine disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Progesterone and estrogen are two important female hormones. Progesterone keeps a check on estrogen levels. When progesterone levels are too low, it leads to a state of hyperestrogenism which triggers excessive hair shedding and hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a potent form of testosterone that normally leads to hair loss. Women, who produce high levels of male hormones (androgens), have increased testosterone levels which can convert to DHT, leading to hair loss.
2. Stress: When a woman experiences any stressful condition, her adrenal glands increase the release of cortisol (stress hormone). This leads to secretion of adrenaline which leads to increased levels of testosterone and DHT.
3. Under or over performing thyroid: An overactive thyroid and lack of sufficient parathyroid hormone can also result in thinning of hair. Accompanying symptoms are fatigue, unexplained weight gain, aching joints, constipation, dry skin, feeling cold all the time, and poor sleep.
4. Pregnancy and childbirth: Pregnancy and childbirth change a woman’s hormonal balance and can result in hair loss. Therefore, it is normal for postpartum mothers to experience thinning of the hair and even bald patches. Such hair loss is temporary and heals itself within several months.
5. Menopause: Menopause also leads to hair loss. During menopause, a woman’s estrogen levels fall and are no longer in balance with DHT levels. This low estrogen level and high DHT lead to hair loss.
6. Nutrient deficiencies: Low levels of certain nutrients within the body, for example, vitamins A, E, and iron may result in hair loss.

How Can You Help Yourself? 

1. Consume omega 3-fatty acids: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are kinds of essential fatty acids (EFAs). They increase hair growth. Sources are walnuts, flax seeds, cold-water fish, such as salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel.
2. Get plenty of sleep: Lack of sleep causes increased stress levels, higher production of cortisol, and ultimately hair loss. Good amount of sleep will lead to harmonious functioning of the body.
3. Take dietary and hair supplements to prevent hair loss: Certain supplements can help minimize the production of DHT, prevent DHT from binding to hair follicles, or stimulate inactive follicles to encourage hair growth.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!